How to grow climbing roses in containers

Laurie Durkee

Nothing says romance like roses winding around and climbing up a trellis in the garden. However, many city dwellers have limited garden space. If you have a small patio or deck area and no space for digging, try growing climbing roses in containers for a romantic serene outdoor space. By using containers to grow roses you can have a roof garden or spruce up a concrete barbecue area. Roses add beauty to any space.

Choose a large container to grow the climbing roses in. The container needs to be large enough to accommodate a plant that grows to be 2.1 to 9 m (7 to 30 feet) tall. The container should be wide enough at the base to prevent the pot from tipping over.

Add shards of terra-cotta to the bottom of the container to create better drainage. Roses will develop root rot if left sitting in water. For this reason, do not put a saucer under the bottom of the container.

Fill the container with the rose planting medium, which may be a sterilised mixture that has at least 50 per cent perlite. The mixture can be a custom mix or pre-mixed from a gardening nursery. Mix in 40 g (1/4 cup) of superphosphate to help root development.

Plant rose into the pot and water thoroughly. Roses in containers should be watered daily, if the soil shows signs of drying you can water twice a day. Due to the watering and drainage needs of the plant, roses need to be fed fertiliser often.

Place container in an area of the patio or deck where it will get at least eight hours of full sun. The container should be well protected from weather.

Place a small trellis in the container and attach the canes of the climbing rose to the trellis with plastic garden ties. Do not use wire to tie the canes as the wire could damage the vine. Before the rose outgrows the small trellis, place the container next to a large trellis that is attached to a wall to give it room to climb.

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About the Author

Laurie Durkee has been a freelance writer since 2009. She is published on eHow, where she specializes in gardening, home decorating and home improvement. Durkee attended classes in behavioral science at Southern Maine Community College.